Gateway is a
school-based, government-funded programme that places senior
students in the workplace for a minimum of 40 hours (one day a week
for a term). It began in 2001.

While working,
the students study unit standards relevant to their area of work on
the NZQA framework. These standards contribute to their overall
qualifications.

This is not
“work experience”. The students selected for Gateway make a
commitment to their place of work for up to a school year and
through this work they study towards appropriate unit standards and
are assessed. The importance of such things as a positive work
ethic, goal setting and planning for the future are stressed.

The Gateway
co-ordinator liaises with employers within the local community to
find suitable workplaces that match the students’ interests. The
co-ordinator also monitors the students and organises the unit
standards and assessment. Where applicable, students will also
complete Sitesafe and First Aid course (arranged by the
school).

Who else has this
programme?

This is a country-wide programme
which is offered in a range of secondary schools.

Gateway students are currently
working in a wide variety of industries: hospitality automotive,
retail, tourism, engineering and building, to date, have been the
most popular.

What the school is
looking for in a Gateway student:

Good attendance record

Good work ethic

Good results with a minimum of 8
Level 1 credits in English, Maths and Science.

The ability to keep on task with
school work, and ensure that work/assessments are up-to-date.

Good attitude

Employers are looking
for:

Good personal presentation and
grooming

Understand and adhere to the
safety practices and rules

Work well in a team

Work well unsupervised

Work productively

Energy and enthusiasm – a desire
to learn and work

Vision – where do you want to be
in 5 years time?

But most of all…

Good communication
skills – being able to carry out conversations with
colleagues and customers in a mature and responsible way.

GATEWAY
2017

We are starting to take
applications for the Gateway programme for 2017 for interested
students in Year 11,12 and 13.
Gateway enrolment forms can be collected from the Careers
Office.

Student applications will go through a
selection process and depend on:

Individual student
timetables

Aptitude and commitment to
the Gateway programme

Attendance record

Being ‘work
ready’

Availability of appropriate
unit standards

Costs

Availability of suitable work
placements

Consideration of the
programme to enhance, not hinder, student core subject
progress

Students are encouraged to
start looking for a suitable work placement. When they find a
business willing to give them work experience, they should give the
business contact details to the Gateway Administrator, to follow
up.

Gateway will involve the students being in
the workplace for one day a week for approximately 10 weeks.
Sometimes this can take place in the weekends or
holidays.

As part of the programme, students must
achieve relevant Unit Standards, the theory component of which can
be done independently or sometimes taught on block courses.
As the Unit Standards are a considerable cost to the programme,
there is an expectation that the student will work to the very best
of their ability.

Students are expected to catch
up any missed work in their own time or at school on Wednesday
afternoons P5 in H.3

There are strict guidelines
regarding dress code and behaviour and this will be signed by all
parties concerned i.e. student, parents and workplace.